Oct. 22, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. - The Penn State swimming and diving teams got their season off to a good start with a win at West Virginia. The men's team won with a score of 145-93 while the women's team took the victory 145-84.
The women's team came away with first place in eight events. Kailey Morris, Alexandra Young and Karie Haglund took first through third in the 200 yard butterfly.
Kaitlin O'Brien went on to win the 1000 yard freestyle in 10:00.41 followed by Diana Greco and Emily Wolfarth in third and fourth. O'Brien ran away with first place in the 200 yard breaststroke with a time of 2:18.63. She also completed the 500 yard freestyle first in 4:55.20 followed closely by Sarah Baker at 4:55.90.
The women went one-two-three in the 400 IM as well in the order of Kailey Morris, Karie Haglund and Daphne Skelos. Morris finished with a time of 4:24.03 which is just over a second of the NCAA "B" qualifying time. She also took first in the 200 yard butterfly as Young and Hagland clocked in at second and third.
In the 200 medley relay the quartette of Michelle Myers, Lyndsey Smith, Kelly Nelson and Linsey DeForrest claimed first with a time of 1:45.18.
Courtney Adlam continued her dominance in diving with first place finishes in the one and three-meter springboard events.
Penn State claimed eight first place finishes on the men's side as well. Freshman Brian Alden took first in the 100 yard freestyle followed closely by Basil Kaaki and John Austin. Dan Fimbianti finished first in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:50.54
David Kraft and Collin Quirk went one-two in the 1000 yard freestyle while Chris Sullivan and Max Ettore finished fourth and fifth respectively. Kraft also finished first in the 500 yard free in 4:38.87.
The sprinters fared well too as Jon Cochrane, Kaaki and Ben Ryan took first through third in the 200 yard freestyle. Vincent Reydams claimed first in the 50 yard freestyle with a time of 21.47 followed by John Austin who was only three-tenths of a second behind.
Josh Bonner took first place in the one and three-meter springboard followed closely by twin brother Justin Bonner who finished second in both events.
"I think the kids did well today," said head coach John Hargis. "They competed well together and are getting better as a group."
The Nittany Lions will return to the water Friday at 4 p.m. as the women welcome Richmond to the McCoy Natatorium.